not regarding the truth as it is in Chrift, but the truth as it is delivered by fuch a man, whom they esteem, and fuch another man, that hath this and that good character. Why, Sirs, if ye have received Christ as the Truth, then ye are to walk in him as the Truth; as the head and the heart of the Truth, and not to hang your faith on the belt of any man or angel; for, "If we, or an angel from heaven, preach another gospel, let him be accurfed." Again,

(2.) It intimates to us, that they cannot be walking in Chrift, who are not zealous against all abolished ceremonies; for Chrift is the Truth, in oppofition to types and ceremonies; thefe were fhadows of things to come, but the body is Chrift, ver. 17,-23. The falfe apoftles joined the doctrines of Chrift with the ceremonies of Mofes; but the Coloffians are exhorted, that as they have received Chrift, the fubftance of all the fhadows and ceremonies, fo they fhould walk in him, not in Mofes ; "The law came by Mofes, but grace and truth came by Jefus Chrift:" And if they that profefs to receive Christ, as the fubftance and body of all the ceremonies, and yet do walk in conformity to the Mosaical ceremonies that were inftitute of God, do not at all walk fuitably to their profeffion of receiving Chrift; much more they that profefs to receive Chrift, and yet conform themselves to cere. monies that were never inftituted of God at all, but are the mere inventions of men; fuch as, the abjured ceremonies of the church of Rome and England. Though ceremonial fervice and fuperftitious worship had never been abjured, by folemn National Covenant, as it was; yet we stand obliged, by the word of God, to renounce and reject the fame; because we are obliged to walk in Chrift, and to walk in him as we have received him: and if we received him aright, we have received him doctrinally as he is the Truth; the Truth, in oppofition to error; and the Truth, in oppofition to fhadows and ceremonies. Again,

Confider Chrift perfonally, as he is the Anointed of the Father. Now, believer, have you received Chrift as the Anointed of God? that is, not only have you been made to believe that he is fealed and authorized of the

Fa

Father to his mediatorial work, and qualified for it of the Father by the fupereminent unction of the Holy Ghoft: but also, have you, by faith, gone in to him, and clofed with him as fuch, and fo are made a partaker of the fame anointing of the Holy Ghoft, by virtue of union to Chrift; for, "He that is joined to the Lord, is one fpirit?" Why then, fo walk ye in him that being in him you may abide in him by a lively faith, John xv. 5. be rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith; ver. 7. of this chapter where the text lies, "Even in Chrift in whom we are builded together, for an habitation of God, thro' the Spirit," Eph. ii. 22.-Have ye received him as the Chrift, the Anointed of God? Then fo walk in him, by improving him and employing him still to anoint you with the fame anointing.-Have ye received him as the Chrift, the Authorized of the Father? Then fo walk in him, by employing him as one that hath a warrant and authority to fave, to heal, and help you in time of need.

2. Have you received him as a JESUS, a Saviour? This is another title he hath in the text; as one that faves from the guilt of fin, the wrath of God, the curfe of the law, and from all things from which ye could never be justified by the law of Mofes. Why then, so walk ye in him; even in him as a Jefus, in which capacity ye have received him. Be daily looking to him for daily falvation, and daily flying into his faving arms, and taking fhelter under the fhadow of his blood and righteoufnefs; and let your walk and conversation before God and the world, evidence that you have received him as a Jefus, a Saviour.

(1.) Have you received him as a Jefus ? fo walk in him before God, by refting on him for complete falvation; and rejoicing in him as God's Salvation, as old Simeon called him, "Now mine eyes have seen thy falvation." Look not for any falvation you need from God, by any other means, but only in and through this Jefus; for the excellencies and perfections of God do all stand against you and your falvation by any other way: but in this Jefus, he can fave you to the honour of all his truth, and the praife of all his other perfections; "I am

the

the way, fays Chrift, no man cometh to the Father but by me:" and to walk in this way, as ye have received him, is juft, having received him to be the way to the Father, to be ftill coming nearer and nearer to God in this way, till falvation be complete, and till you come to the end of your faith, the falvation of your foul.

(2.) As ye have received him as a Jefus, fo walk in him before the world, by giving evidence in your converfation that this Jefus hath faved you, and called you with a holy calling; and by fetting him forth, as you can, to all that are about you, that he is an excellent Saviour, the chief among ten thousands: that he is an able Saviour, mighty to fave: and that he is a complete Saviour, a perfect Jefus. Tell your children, families, friends, and all that you can have regular access to do good unto, that religion is no fancy; but that which you have heard, and feen, and handled, of the word of life, declare unto them, that they may have fellowship with you, if they hear; that you have feen a glory in Chrift that they never faw; and felt a fweetnefs that they never felt, a joy unfpeakable, and a peace that passed all underftanding, which they are strangers unto: it may ftir them up to fay, as it is, Zech. viii. 23. "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." Sirs, a fervant will commend his master that may be little worthy of commendation; and will you not commend a Jefus who have received him as fuch, and walk in his name? Micah iv. 5. "For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever." Again,

3. Have you received him as a LORD? This is another letter of his name in the text; and thefe three letters of his name, Christ, Jefus, the Lord, point him out beyond all other names in the world. Have you, I fay, received him as a LORD? Then walk in him as a Lord, otherwise you walk not in him as you have received him. The true believer doth not only receive Chrift as a Jefus, and Saviour; but also as a Lord, and Governor. Many would divide betwixt his falvation and his dominion; they would have Chrift as a Saviour, to fave them from wrath; but not as a Lord, to deftroy

their lufts and fins: but the true receiver of Chrift is as weary of the load of corruption, as he is weary of the load of condemnation; and therefore not only being weary of condemnation, would he have Chrift as a Saviour, but being weary of corruption he would have Chrift as a Lord: and indeed when the heart would have water as well as blood, then it is in a right temperature? when the man would have water to purify the heart, as well as blood to pacify the confcience, this argues honeft receiving; for Chrift comes by water and blood, I John v. 6. He comes not only to juftify, but also to fanctify; he comes not only as a Jefus, to fave by price; but allo as a Lord, to fave by power.

Now, have you received Chrift in the capacity of a Lord? Then fo walk in him as he is a Lord, and as ye have received him. The reft of the world give evidence that they never received him as a Lord, by their practically saying, that they will not have this man to reign over them: but know, man, that he will never be a Jefus to fave you, if he be not alfo a Lord to conquer you, and reign over you; and you can never receive him as a Jefus, and reject him as a Lord, without being rejected of him in both thefe capacities; for he will not be a Jefus where he is not a Lord. But you, believers, who have received Christ as a Lord, are you walking in him as these that have thus received him, and giving evidence that ye have received him as a Lord, before God and the world? Surely, if it be fo, it will some way appear by the language of your hearts, and the language of your lives. The language of your hearts will be, "O Lord, other lords have had dominion over me; but now by thee only will I make mention of thy name:" Oh? may Chrift be the Lord of my heart, and of all the thoughts of my heart, so as they may be captives to the Son of God; and of all the affections of my heart, fo as they may terminate upon him alone; and of all the defires of my heart, fo as that they may go out after him. Why, the rest of the world fhew they never received him as a Lord, because the devil, the world, and the flesh, have the whole of their hearts, their thoughts, affections, and defires, being wholly taken up with va

nishing

nishing worldly lufts, idols, and trifles. But though the world may have much of a believer's heart fometimes, yet it hath but the white of the egg, as it were, Christ hath the yoke of the heart of that man; his top and fuperlative thoughts and defires, because he hath taken Chrift for the Lord of his heart.-Again, if you have received Chrift as a Lord, then you will fo defire to walk in him, by saying, O let him be the Lord of my tongue! while others are faying, "Our tongues are our own, who is Lord over us?" and fo loofing their tongues against heaven, by curfing, fwearing, railing, reproaching: but, O fays the man that hath received Chrift the Lord, May Chrift be the Lord of my tongue, and may it be occupied in his fervice, in praying, praising, and edifying difcourfe upon all occafions, Sabbath and work ing days. Many by their carnal difcourfe and converfation, and by their evil and unprofitable communication, give evidence that it is not Chrift, but the devil, that is lord of their tongues.-Again, if you have received Christ as a Lord, then you will fo defire to walk in him as to make him Lord of your time, fo as not to fquander it away with idle company, idle vifits, idle diverfions; as if it were good for nothing but to be cast away upon any trifle; but you will defire and endeavour to "Walk circumfpectly, not as fools, but as wife, redeeming the time." Many fhow that Chrift is not their Lord, by living as if they were lords of their own time and talents, which yet are but lent of the Lord, who fays, Occupy till I come.-If you have received him as a Lord, then fo to walk in him, is to make him Lord of your life, fo as to live to him; the Lord of your fouls and bodies, fo as to glorify him in your fouls and bodies which are his. Others live as if they were lords of their own life, lords of their own fouls, and might caft them away at random; and lords of their own bodies, and might defile them with drunkenness and whoredom as they please; an evidence that Chrift is not their Lord. If you have received him as a Lord, then fo to walk in him, is to make him Lord of your confciences, and the Lord of your light, fo as not to enflave your light and conscience to any man on earth, any devil in hell, or any idol in the world. Many give